Most recent 30 articles: Sustainable Brands
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Responding to Cultural Tipping Points: Co-Creating a Brand Culture for Good - Sustainable Brands (May 24) |
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May 24 · Keynotes from day 2 of Brand-Led Culture Change shed light on collaborative behavior-change and stakeholder-engagement approaches that are changing the way brands are creating products, stories and strategies.
Solitaire Townsend
“Humanity does not change in a linear way; we change in an exponential way,” Futerra co-founder Solitaire Townsend told hundreds of eager changemakers on day 2 of Brand-Led Culture Change.
Townsend’s new book, The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future, sets out what it takes to join a new generation of entrepreneurs, CEOs and leaders transforming business to create a more sustainable society. History has shown that culture change ... Read more ...
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First Closed-Loop Metal-Recycling Technology Offers Sustainable Future for a Battery-Powered World - Sustainable Brands (May 19) |
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May 19 · Aqua Metals’ closed-loop metal-recycling process is revolutionizing metal sourcing and disposal - and eliminating the negative side effects of EV battery production.
As the world looks to decarbonize, many eyes are on electric vehicles (EV) and renewable-energy infrastructures to pave the way. Over the next 20 years, the EV market is set to grow substantially - by 2050, a projected 300 million EVs on the road by 2050, accounting for 60 percent of new car sales. The world will also become more reliant on renewable sources - by 2050, 90 percent of the world's energy will be derived from renewables.
Batteries may be electrifying our future, but their production remains ... Read more ...
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3 Easy Steps to Transitioning Your Business to Solar Energy - Sustainable Brands (May 18) |
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May 18 · The benefits of going solar come from a combination of reduced costs, tax incentives and how much sunlight your panels collect. So, no matter where you are, the benefits are easy to see.
It’s a startling fact: For as high as inflation is throughout the US economy, electricity prices have risen at an even quicker pace. In fact, the price of power surged 14.3 percent in 2022 – double the year-over-year rate of inflation.
According to the World Economic Forum, such significant increases are due in large part to the war in Ukraine; and of course, climate change continues to negatively impact worldwide energy security.
Even a cursory look at such economic pressures ... Read more ...
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Nurturing Mental Health in a Climate-Changing World: Another Critical Challenge to Face Together - Sustainable Brands (May 18) |
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May 18 · As with other forms of anxiety, climate anxiety must be navigated with great care; and it is essential that the younger generation have allies around them when facing such an enormous challenge as climate change.
This week we are marking Mental-Health Awareness Week, the theme of which is anxiety - which has become prevalent across society, particularly for young people.
Some have described the UK as an “anxious nation.” Studies suggest that more than 8 million people in the UK are experiencing anxiety at any given time. It affects many children and young people. The last few years have seen anxiety and other mental-health conditions escalate in children and young ... Read more ...
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The Greenwash Era Is Over, But Are Our Communicators Ready to Step Up? - Sustainable Brands (May 17) |
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May 17 · As advertising regulators, consumer watchdogs and even governments take a tougher stance, the risks of getting it wrong grow significantly; and the pressure is on communicators to up their game and back up their claims.
It’s officially, and legally, getting harder for brands to greenwash. In Europe, the EU Parliament has just voted to ramp up regulation to deter companies from making 'carbon-neutral’ claims that can so easily mislead consumers into believing the products they are buying are good for the environment. Proposed new anti-greenwashing rules – said to represent a “significant victory for consumers and the environment” – were voted by an overwhelming majority of 544 ... Read more ...
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Though Short Lived, Methane Has an Outsized Impact on Short-Term Warming - Sustainable Brands (May 12) |
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May 12 · Decades ago, had we gotten a handle on our CO2, our additional methane emissions might not have mattered - but those days are gone.
Human-caused methane emissions - the majority of which stem from food and agriculture waste, cow burps, and oil and gas operations - are responsible for half of the planet’s warming and are likely to cause temperatures to overshoot Paris targets in the coming decades. Recent UN research flags the importance of mitigating this greenhouse gas for stabilizing climate in the short term while potentially adding another, much-needed .5°C of wiggle room for warming from CO2.
“Decades ago, had we gotten a handle on CO2, our additional methane ... Read more ...
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Why 2023 Is (Finally) The Year of the Sustainability Pivot - Sustainable Brands (May 12) |
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May 12 · Four key trends are converging this year to create a permanent shift toward sustainability across industries - with implications for tech innovation, the planet and companies that have yet to start their sustainability transformation.
Despite economic uncertainty, tech industry woes and a tightening VC market, money and talent are flowing into climate technology development at an unprecedented pace. This is accelerating progress and offering hope for meeting global decarbonization targets to mitigate temperature rise. We’re also seeing renewable energy solidifying its status as the “world’s cheapest source of energy.”?
Why is all of this happening now, after many years ... Read more ...
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Balancing Optimism, Practicality to Drive Architects and Designers Toward a Sustainable Future - Sustainable Brands (May 11) |
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May 11 · Shaw spoke with 'Metropolis' Editor-in-Chief Avinash Rajagopal about how to best tackle the complexity of sustainability, and how the design industry is adopting a more interconnected perspective on the subject.
Metropolis is an award-winning architecture and design-focused media company. Through its print and editorial coverage, virtual and in-person events, awards programs and advocacy initiatives, Metropolis speaks to the future of architecture and design. With a commitment to a sustainable, just and nurturing built environment, the company strives to help the architecture and interior design community make people’s lives better and safeguard life on this planet - ... Read more ...
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High-Quality, Nature-Based Solutions in Indonesia: Allying with Communities, Restoring Ecosystems - Sustainable Brands (May 10) |
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May 10 · When implemented thoughtfully, nature-based climate-action projects support biodiversity and connect communities, governments and other organizations to make long-lasting, impactful changes that no one group could do alone.
Mangroves can sequester three to five times more carbon than tropical forests and, if left undisturbed, can store and lock carbon in sediment for hundreds to thousands of years. Beyond representing a valuable tool for carbon sequestration, mangrove forests are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and provide critical ecosystem services such as coastline protection from storm surge, stabilization against coastal erosion, and habitat for a ... Read more ...
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Is the Voluntary Carbon Market Worth Saving? - Sustainable Brands (May 8) |
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May 8 · Despite its flaws, I believe that the VCM is an essential tool in our climate toolkit. To ensure funding is channeled into real climate-action projects, we still must drive greater integrity and transparency. Here are four ways we can do that.
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Questions over methodologies, inaccurate claims and lack of transparency are creating serious concerns about the integrity of the market - causing many to lose faith in the potential of carbon offsetting to have the necessary impact on carbon emissions. This decline in confidence in the market has made many companies hesitant to use carbon ... Read more ...
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Oatly Challenges Big Dairy to Climate Footprint Showdown - Sustainable Brands (May 5) |
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May 5 · Oatly is offering free ad space to a big dairy brand that shares the same impact data that Oatly did to receive its climate certification.
Oat-milk giant Oatly is throwing down the transparency gauntlet to 'Big Dairy’ by offering to give away free (paid by Oatly) advertising space if dairy brands are willing to publicly disclose answers to a few (68 total) questions about their climate footprint.
It’s part of a new ad campaign that highlights Oatly’s recent move to include a climate footprint label across several of its products in the US. The Oatly ads will be featured in this Sunday’s NY Times, LA Times and Washington Post; and on Monday will be on billboards in Times ... Read more ...
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Of Course, Nature Can Save Our Hot, Polluted Cities: Meet the CityTree - Sustainable Brands (May 5) |
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May 5 · Green City Solutions has combined air-purifying moss with IoT technology in a smart biotech filter that can clean 82% of fine dust particles from the air, and humidify and cool it by up to 4°C.
Global air quality has been declining over the years; and the effects are hard to ignore: According to the World Health Organization, 99 percent of the population is now breathing in polluted air; and it is responsible for 7 million premature deaths annually.
More than 50 percent of the population lives in cities - which are hotspots for air pollution - a number predicted to reach 68 percent by 2050. Incredibly harmful to human health, air pollution is linked to public health ... Read more ...
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Bridging the Sustainability Trust Gap in a Climate-Challenged World - Sustainable Brands (May 1) |
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May 1 · Despite growing corporate efforts to drive sustainable change and climate action, there’s an underlying issue: a lack of consumer trust towards companies’ claims on this front.
Around the world, major environmental events and extreme weather conditions have pushed climate change to top of mind for people worldwide. According to iStock and Getty Images’ VisualGPS research, “climate change” ranks top of the list of concerns for individuals across the globe - higher than inflation, the energy crises, or issues surrounding world peace.
However, there is still a general sense of ambiguity on who is accountable for driving forward actions to combat climate risks - is it the ... Read more ...
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New Research from Tide, WWF Reveals Keys to Sustainable Behavior Change - Sustainable Brands (May 1) |
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May 1 · Tide and WWF believe the new insights gathered from their work together on laundry are applicable for all brands seeking to partner with consumers to reduce environmental impacts.
In 2022, Tide and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) joined forces to advance the science behind sustainable consumer behavior change - via a research project undertaken as part of an ongoing collaborative effort to make washing laundry in cold water the next broadly adopted eco-habit, as an important step to reduce consumer greenhouse gas emissions. Tide and WWF believe the new insights gathered from their work together on laundry are applicable for all brands seeking to partner with consumers to create ... Read more ...
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2 Biotech Startups Are 3D Printing 'Fish’ to Give the Ocean a Rest - Sustainable Brands (Apr 28) |
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Apr 28 · Mycorena and Revo Foods have combined mycelium-based protein and 3D printing to create a potential win-win for seafood fans and overexploited fish populations.
Some have pinned their hopes for fish stock sustainability on aquaculture; but while fish farms do alleviate pressure on marine and freshwater fish populations, and responsible and sustainable models are on the rise, the aquaculture industry at large continues to set off alarm bells due to its adverse environmental effects, hazardous working conditions and even incidences of animal cruelty.
Luckily, an emerging crop of innovators - including Aqua Cultured Foods and Umami Meats - has turned to the lab for a ... Read more ...
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Food Companies: The Most Impactful Scope 3 Emissions Solutions Have Multiple Benefits - Sustainable Brands (Apr 27) |
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Apr 27 · Working towards halving food loss and waste by 2030 will help food and beverage companies mitigate their GHGs across all scopes. Supply chain collaborations and engagements that yield multiple environmental benefits are critical.
As we close out Earth Month, it seems only fitting to discuss one of the most complicated issues with greenhouse gas accounting in our nation’s food and beverage supply chains - Scope 3 emissions and the potential solutions.
For the past 43 years, we have celebrated Earth Day on April 22; and as the climate crisis continues to grow, it has become a month-long global appeal during which we ask our world leaders, businesses, scientists and every ... Read more ...
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L'Oréal, Apple Continue to Cultivate Nature-Based Climate and Biodiversity Solutions - Sustainable Brands (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · The two companies have expanded the scope and scale of their respective nature-focused impact-investment funds.
Since the twin clarion calls from COP15 and the latest IPCC report to renew our focus on the earth’s biodiversity, the corporate and finance worlds have mobilized millions in resources to scale on-the-ground, nature-preservation and -regeneration projects and nature-based climate solutions around the world. Two companies that launched nature-restoration funds prior to this year’s groundswell have recently expanded their efforts.
Biochar is recognized by the IPCC as a viable solution with the potential to remove 1-2 billion tons of CO2 emissions from the ... Read more ...
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IKEA Has a Plan to Help All of Its Suppliers More Easily Switch to Clean Energy - Sustainable Brands (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · So far, the company is facilitating access to renewables for suppliers in 13 countries through PPAs and a finance mechanism for suppliers keen to invest in onsite projects.
Investment in clean energy is finally picking up. According to BloombergNEF, last year saw record levels of money being channelled into renewable power projects. Roughly half a trillion dollars was spent on low-carbon energy generation in 2022, with solar investment jumping 36 percent year-on-year to $308 billion. The second-largest sector, wind, benefitted from £175 billion.
In the five years that followed the signing of the global Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) ... Read more ...
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PFAS-Removal Solutions for Consumer Products Show Promise But Remain Costly - Sustainable Brands (Apr 20) |
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Apr 20 · In light of new EPA guidance and increased consumer awareness, remediation strategies for the so-called 'forever chemicals’ are coming under increased scrutiny.
As highly toxic chemical compounds found in everything from clothing to cookware to firefighting foam, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) have recently gained steam as the latest class of dangerous compounds companies are looking to phase out of their products.
The pressure has become so strong, even the EPA took the formal step of issuing wide-ranging guidance through the first part of this year to create a roadmap towards phasing out PFAS - which have been nicknamed “forever chemicals” for their ... Read more ...
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Tourism Offers Gateway for Youth-Focused Climate Action, Sustainability - Sustainable Brands (Apr 20) |
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Apr 20 · Kids will care for the planet long after the adults in the boardroom are gone. Involving them in sustainability and climate initiatives through tourism now is a natural gateway to positively shaping the future.
For professionals reading the IPCC reports and drafting sustainability strategy plans around conference room tables, the global challenges can feel equal parts theoretical and overwhelming. What does all the data mean? What is the right way to move forward? Does it even matter?
But then, on a beach in Indonesia, a young girl tells her dad not to step on the reef or touch the coral because it’s not good for the fish. A couple of kids hiking through a US national ... Read more ...
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Ever Hear of SPF 5000+? By 2050, Skin Proud & Cat Cohen Say You Will - Sustainable Brands (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · The vegan skincare brand partnered with the comedian and Intersectional Environmentalist on a parody video to educate consumers and inspire climate action.
In a bid to raise awareness around growing environmental concerns and the adverse effects that climate change could have on the skin, body-positive, vegan skincare brand Skin Proud has partnered with comedian Cat Cohen and nonpro?t organization Intersectional Environmentalist (IE) to release a parody video titled “Get Ready With Me for the End of the World.”
Skin Proud's parody video jumps on the viral 'Get Ready With Me' (GRWM) TikTok trend, where content creators walk viewers through a particular part of their daily ... Read more ...
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For Lundberg Family Farms, 'Every Ducking Day Is Earth Day’ - Sustainable Brands (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · New ad campaign pokes fun at celebrating taking care of the planet only once a year.
As an 85-year-old rice brand, Lundberg Family Farms works in partnership with nature 365 days a year. In addition to growing cover crops, using water (instead of herbicides) to manage weeds, and many other regenerative-organic rice-farming practices, Lundberg saves baby ducks.
Each winter, Lundberg floods a portion of its fields to replicate California’s once-abundant wetlands, providing food and habitat for wintering waterfowl. Lundberg also grows cover crops - which help sequester carbon, restore nutrients to the soil, and provide nesting habitat for ducks. So, when the company began ... Read more ...
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As Forests React to Climate Change, Can Genetically Modified Trees Stand in the Gap? - Sustainable Brands (Apr 17) |
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Apr 17 · In the lab, Living Carbon’s GM poplars accumulated biomass up to 53% faster, trapping as much as 27% more carbon than non-engineered poplars. But skeptics aren’t convinced they’re seeing the forest for the trees.
Climate change requires human and non-human communities to rise to their fullest potential in order to adapt, survive and thrive. The question of if, and how, some organisms could be helped along the way in reaching this potential and beyond is being explored by genetically engineering organisms to be more suited for a warming planet.
Biotech startup Living Carbon has developed a genetically engineered hybrid poplar tree with enhanced photosynthetic abilities. ... Read more ...
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30 Companies Restoring the Planet - and Our Hope for a Better World - Sustainable Brands (Apr 12) |
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Apr 12 · In 'Working to Restore,' writer Esha Chhabra highlights 30 companies around the world that embody a truly regenerative approach to business.
Esha Chhabra’s new book, Working to Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World, is all about hope, ambition and showcasing what’s possible when it comes to businesses helping to solve the world’s biggest environmental and social challenges.
Centered around nine key themes - from soil health and women’s empowerment to travel, health and energy - and zooming in on 30 different companies, the book comes hot on the heels of the IPCC’s latest update. Chhabra’s book acts as something of antidote to the ... Read more ...
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3 Unlocks to Future-Fit Business Leadership - Sustainable Brands (Apr 11) |
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Apr 11 · Too often, business leaders default to incremental or quick-fix solutions that fail to address the root causes of the issues they set out to solve. Correcting our course means fundamentally changing how we think and act, and asking hard questions about why businesses exist.
Right now, businesses are painfully aware of the need to rapidly equip their leadership teams with the knowledge and capabilities to effectively navigate an increasingly volatile and rapidly changing operating context.
It comes as attempts to keep global temperature increases below 1.5°C remain wildly off track. Many of the world’s largest companies have pledged to reach net zero by 2050; and some - ... Read more ...
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PUMA Engaging 'Voices of a Re:Generation’ to Help Shape Its Sustainability Strategy - Sustainable Brands (Apr 7) |
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Apr 7 · The year-long partnership with four young influencers will explore actionable ways to implement feedback within PUMA’s business and sustainability strategies, while using the voices’ platforms to communicate PUMA’s efforts transparently and authentically.
This week, sportswear giant PUMA launched Voices of a Re:Generation - an initiative that looks to evolve how the brand navigates its sustainability journey by including the next generation’s perspectives and recommendations. The project will kick off with PUMA collaborating and giving a seat at the table to four young, environmentalist 'voices’ from across Europe and the US over a year-long period.
Part of PUMA’s ... Read more ...
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SWAROVSKI EXPANDS SUSTAINABILITY OFFERING WITH HYPERBOLA CAPSULE JEWELERY COLLECTION - Sustainable Brands (Apr 3) |
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Apr 3 · Swarovski is expanding its range of jewelry made with sustainability in mind with the launch of the new Hyperbola capsule collection, made with certified carbon neutral Swarovski Zirconia and recycled metal.
Featuring a ring, bracelet, and three pairs of earrings, the Hyperbola collection uses certified carbon neutral Swarovski Zirconia and recycled metal, without compromising on style or quality.
The Swarovski Zirconia was created using renewable energy, thereby reducing carbon emissions by 58% compared to regular zirconia, while the remaining 42% of emissions have been offset.
This new launch is one of many steps Swarovski is taking on the journey to limit its ... Read more ...
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How to Select Sustainable Materials for the Built Environment - Sustainable Brands (Mar 31) |
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Mar 31 · Acknowledging that many textile manufacturers are vague about their products, with little to no proof of sustainability or misrepresenting their claims, can be disheartening. But there are a few key ways to identify a greenwashed product.
As awareness and understanding of their negative environmental impacts increases, the fashion and building industries are re-evaluating their practices and working to minimize their harmful impacts. It’s fantastic to see a collective movement of corporations becoming more mindful of where and how they source their goods and what materials they work with. Businesses of all sizes must practice accountability for their environmental and social ... Read more ...
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How to Select Sustainable Textiles for the Built Environment - Sustainable Brands (Mar 31) |
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Mar 31 · Acknowledging that many textile manufacturers are vague about their products, with little to no proof of sustainability or misrepresenting their claims, can be disheartening. But there are a few key ways to identify a greenwashed product.
As awareness and understanding of their negative environmental impacts increases, the fashion and building industries are re-evaluating their practices and working to minimize their harmful impacts. It’s fantastic to see a collective movement of corporations becoming more mindful of where and how they source their goods and what materials they work with. Businesses of all sizes must practice accountability for their environmental and social ... Read more ...
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Markets Will Reward Brands That Are De-Risking Their Supply Chains - Sustainable Brands (Mar 30) |
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Mar 30 · While the volatility of economic change around us can be distracting, one thing remains clear: A new generation of expectations is shifting business for good.
There has been a rapid recent shift from Scope 3 emissions measurement and management as a “nice-to-have” to a requirement for doing business responsibly. If your brand intends to lead in the markets of tomorrow, you must understand your supply chain and be reducing impacts now. It is no longer tenable to not know the environmental and social implications across the production lifecycle. With disclosure regulations at play across the globe, ESG reporting is increasingly being legally mandated. Examples include the EU’s ... Read more ...
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